Police are investigating two rounds of gunfire at a nightclub in southwest Atlanta on Thursday morning.
Officers responded to the Ivory Restaurant and club on Whitehall Street about 4:10 a.m. While they were working to learn what happened, someone opened fire from a car outside the club, Atlanta police Capt. Reginald Moorman told AJC.com.
One man was shot in the leg in the initial incident. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in stable condition and was speaking with investigators Thursday.
“We were able to determine that initially a fight occurred inside of the club and the security pushed the parties that were involved in the fight outside,” Moorman said. “Once they were outside, witnesses reported hearing one gunshot.”
Witnesses said the shooter ran to a dark-colored SUV on Northside Drive. Sometime later, another round of shots were fired from a white sedan on Whitehall Street, Moorman said.
No one in the crowd was hit in the second spray of bullets.
The Thursday morning gunfire was not the first trouble for the southwest Atlanta nightclub. Police investigated another shooting there earlier this year, and Moorman said there have been issues with crowds and parking in the past.
“We have had to respond to several calls at this location,” he said. “This location does draw large crowds of people here, so we’ve had to address issues.”
In May, an off-duty Fulton County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a 46-year-old man after an altercation inside the Ivory. Deputies working security fired a stun gun at Norris Duffy before he was seen grabbing an assault rifle from his vehicle, and a deputy fired shots.
MORE: Man shot, killed by off-duty Fulton deputy outside restaurant had assault rifle
Police also investigated deadly shootings at the club in 2015 and 2016.
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Moorman said police have met some resistance from witnesses and with club management during their initial investigation. A large crowd in the parking lot scattered when officers arrived, and investigators are hoping more willing witnesses will come forward.
“Any of those people who left before they had a chance to speak to investigators, we are asking them to reach out to investigators or to Crime Stoppers to provide us with any information that can help us to determine what happened here tonight,” he said.
Tipsters can remain anonymous, and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000, by contacting Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477, texting information to 274637 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.
